1978-02-23 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesMINUTES
PARK and RECREATION COMMITTEE
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
are: February 23, 1978
Members Present: Lundeen, Murphy, Laturski, Mills, Witt, Gustafson
Members Absent: Finn and Williams
The minutes were corrected to reflect under Item 6 that Eagan rather than West
St. Paul had worked out some agreements with the District 197 School Board re-
garding usage of property. Other than that correction, the minutes were approved
as mailed.
2, By unani mous ballot the following persons were elected for a period of one year as
follows:
Chairman - Liz Witt
Vice Chairman - Jerry Finn
Secretary - Gary Gustafson
3. Recreation. Liz Witt reported that Dewey has now scheduled the volleyball for
the spring quarter. Skating rinks continue to be a problem with several rink
attendants not scheduled to be rehired for next year. As to the skating, Rudy
reported that the doors on the warming houses are deteriorating from usage and
that several of them should probably be replaced this summer. Rudy was asked
to bring in a cost estimate for this work at the next meeting. Rudy also reported
that the trail from the parking lot to the facilities in Rogers Lake continues to
wash out and suggested that they be blacktopped. Jerry Murphy reported on a
new type of mat that could be layed down and filled in with rock or gravel that
would probably hold better than asphalt and probably would look better. He is
going to bring in the literature regarding this to the next meeting.
4. Liz Witt reported that the success of the community survey was very good with
11300 of 2,000 letters sent out returned. The results are not all tabulated in a
form to be published, but Liz looked at some of the information and on a ratio of
4 to 1 people wanted smaller parks and on a ratio of 8 to 1, they were most interested
in hiking trails.
5. Discussion was had on bridges with Rudy mentioning that the bridges in Wentworth
Park are too narrow for the lawnmower and is considering the possibility of widening
them. Also we continue to have the bridge problem in Valley Park and it was
suggested that Liz talk to Orville regarding the possibility of a SEDA employee de-
signing some of the bridges that we need to have constructed in our park system.
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b. Chairman Witt reported the Development Fund balance is now $52,592 and
contributions expected this year include $11,000 from the Riley Subdivision
and $28,500 from Rolling Greens.
7. The Commission members were reminded that we planned last year to complete
the playground equipment in the three remaining parks (Marie, Valley and Ivy
Falls) this year. Rudy was asked to bring the literature back in hopes that we
could use the same type of equipment in these parks, but possibly design some
different equipment so that the parks would not all have the same playground
equipment.
8. Orville reported to Liz that
there is a very strong
possibility that
the bikeway
trail grant application along Lexington Avenue from
Highway 13
to Wagonwheel
and then over to Todd Road
would be funded this
year.
9, Last month the commissioners had discussed the possibility of moving the Marie
Avenue hockey rinks to Mendota School, but that has been investigated and due
to a lack of city water at the site, this could not be accomplished. Thus the
rink will have to remain where it is, but Rudy suggested moving it approximately
10 Feet east when they have to replace the posts this summer. The Commission
recommended that that be done.
10. Lighting for the tennis courts at Sibley High School was again discussed, although
no firm cost figures were obtainable. By the next meeting, we hope to have more
information on that in order that a proposal could be made to the school board for
lighting and also the supervising of the tennis courts during that time. From in-
vestigation done by members of the Commission, it appears we would have to
charge $1.50 per hour for the use of the courts while they are lit and, therefore,
supervise it and collect the fees rather than using the coin operated meters as they
have been a problem in other parts of the city.
11. Merrl-Eagan Capital Improvements -- In our budget earlier this year we provided for
funds to help out the Mend -Eagan recreational program by supplying some sort of
capital improvement to their program. They have requested that we supply crushed
limestone to the ball fields at Sibley High School at a cost of $4004500. The
Commission expressed a favorable response to this request, but was unsure which 2
ball fields they had in mind. Assuming that this would not be a problem to the
school district as these fields are used regularly by the Mend -Eagan as well as the
Mendota Heights programs .
St. Thomas Capital Improvements -- Jerry Murphy has discussed the passibility of
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upgrading the ball field at St. Thomas and using it for recreation programs. They
are in the process of moving and upgrading the ball field now and also developing
another ball field. The response from St. Thomas is that they would be most happy
to cooperate with the City as their philosophy is to be a part of the community.
It was suggested that nothing be done immediately, but that at a later date we
might provide fencing, bleachers, or something of that nature that they would not
have the funds to put in.
12. The Commission then locked at a proposed replat of the Friendly liills addition
where additional land is being acquired for park purposes. The Commission re-
sponded favorably to additional park land here, but did express concern that the
park not be cut off from the open land east of this park. The proposed plot did
not show access to that area and since this is one of the best hiking and cross
country sWing areas in the city, it is recommended that easements be obtained for
these purposes through that subdivision to the open space to the east and to the
school property to the south.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Commission members are
reminded that the meeting date has been moved to coincide with the Planning Commission
in order that we might jointly discuss some matters when it is appropriate. The next meeting
will be the 4th Tuesday in March at 8 p.m. (March 28th).
Respectfully submitted,
Gary C. Gustafson
Secretary